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The primary role of the Scientific Services is to carry out the necessary research to underpin this policy and to provide technical advice to the Director General for the implementation of policy.

The major responsibility of the section is to maintain biodiversity through conservation of ecosystems, species and ecological processes so as to enable natural selection to operate on wild populations. This involves planning management, research, monitoring and extension throughout Zimbabwe, with the primary emphasis on the Parks and Wildlife Estate. These activities take place along continuum ranging from total preservation to full scale sustainable use for economic gain. All are interlinked and entail responsibilities for both Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecologists.

The section should be prepared to undertake problem-orientated research in any area or to secure the necessary inputs from outside its ranks if unable to do so. Of necessity, this role implies a broad range of skills and training, and considerable flexibility and adaptability amongst the staff.

THE SCIENTIFIC SERVICES TEAM

RESPONSIBILITIES

The following inventory includes requirements of both aquatic and terrestrial Ecologists and it is clear that many of the research requirements require additional disciplines;

1. Assist in the preparation of Park Plans

Define, describe, delineate ecosystems

Produce inventories of species

Design adaptive management systems for species, habitats and tourisms

Define permissible limits to change in ecosystem components

Develop methodologies for habitat assessment

Monitor those essential variables which will provide the data to assess sustainable carrying capacities of protected areas for various uses and users

2. Environmental protection

Integrated environmental management

Environmental impact assessments

3. Species protection and management

Recommend schedules of species which should be legally protected

Establish criteria and controls for utilisation of protected species (including plants)

Develop a crisis action programme for black and white rhino

Recommend on protection measures

4. Ecological research and management

Develop a research programme for elephants

Develop a national ornithological programme incorporating research, conservation and utilisation which includes collaboration with other individuals and organisations locally and internationally

Improve veterinary aspects of and develop appropriate regulations for capture and movement of wildlife

Examine genetic implications of wildlife translocation for small populations and captive breeding systems

Develop biological research programmes for capture fishers that are responsive to the needs of local communities

Develop breeding and stocking programmes for exotic and indigenous fish species for angling where appropriate

Improve management and controls on sport fisheries

Carry out production oriented research and set up demonstration units for aqua culture

Conduct appropriate research for intensive wildlife industries such as crocodile and ostrich farming and the indigenous silk moths (Gonometa spp)

5. Sustainable utilisation

Delineate areas and allocate quotas for sport hunting in the Estate

Assess and approve quotas in areas where hunting is legally restricted

Contacts:
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Cell: 07767739071/0735607804

Professional Qualifications:

2013 Dhil Environmental Science NUST (thesis submitted)

1997- MSc in Conservation Biology (Canterbury, U. K.)

1985- MSc in Agriculture (Kharkov, Ukraine)

1985- Cert. Education (Kharkov)

1994- Cert. Remote Sensing

1994- Cert. Project Appraisal and Quantitative Methods

1994- Cert. Basic and Micro Economics

1999- Cert. Biodiversity management (Japan)

Membership/Affiliation:MZIM

Years in Service: 29 Years

Merits/Awards: Wildlife Society Research Award

University of Zululand Research Awards

Personal philosophy

Sound earthkeeping through innovations in research and community outreach

TAFANGENYASHA, C. (in press) Vegetation of the Matobo National Park, south western Zimbabwe. Kirkia

TAFANGENYASHA, C. and Dube, L.T. (in press) Can phosphate recovery be an option to reducing phosphate loads in agricultural persistent point source nutrient discharges in southeast Zimbabwe? International Journal of Environmental Studies (Francis and Taylor Accepted)

TAFANGENYASHA, C. and Dube, L.T.(2008) An investigation of the impacts of agricultural runoff on the water quality and aquatic organisms in a lowveld sand river system in southeast Zimbabwe. Water Resources Management Journal 22, 119-130.

TAFANGENYASHA, C.andDzinomwa, T. (2005) Land-use impacts on river water quality in lowveld sand river systems in south-east Zimbabwe. Land-use and Water Resources Research5, 3.1-3.10.

TAFANGENYASHA, C. and Dube, L. T. (2008) Evaluation of the usefulness of the South African Scoring Systems in a savanna river. Tropical and Subtr opical Agroecosystems Journal 8, 135-144.

TAFANGENYASHA, C., Marshall, B. E and L. T. Dube (2010). The diurnal variation of the physico-chemical parameters of a lowland river flow in a semi-arid landscape with human interferences in Zimbabwe. International Research. Journal for Water Environment and EngineeringVol. 2(6), pp. 137–147.

Mrs. Rose Mandisodza-Chikerema is a dedicated conservationist with 10 years’ work experience in wildlife ecology working for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA). Her research interest includes large carnivore management, animal welfare for wildlife in captivity, wildlife utilization and environmental impact assessments. Mrs. Chikerema has vast experience in feasibility assessments for wildlife ranching in areas outside Protected Areas (Private Game Farms).

Qualifications

Master of Science Tropical Resource Ecology (University of Zimbabwe)

Bachelor of Environmental Science in (Honours) in Wildlife and Rangeland Management (Bindura University of Science Education)

Cheryl Tinashe Mabika (View Full Profile)

B.Sc. (Hons) Wildlife and Safari Management, Chinhoyi University of Technology

Cheryl Tinashe Mabika is an ecologist with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), Scientific Services Department. She obtained a degree in Wildlife and Safari Management at Chinhoyi University of Technology in 2013. She also did her internship at Gonarezhou National Park for a year. She has done research in Spatial distribution patterns and trends in vegetation across areas of different land use.

Research Work

Thesis: Vegetation structure and composition across areas of different land-use in Gonarezhou National Park and adjacent campfire hunting areas, South-eastern Zimbabwe.

Analytical models using growth populations to determine kapenta stock and sustainability parameters in Lake Kariba: Length frequency analysis of kapenta is underway with samples collected from different basins of Lake Kariba every month.

Limnology: Water quality monitoring throughout Lake Kariba is where parameters such as dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, conductivity, nitrogen and phosphorous content of the lake are measured and compared throughout the year to shifts and effects on productivity on the lake.

Changes in fish species diversity in artisanal fish catches - Collection and analysis of catch data is underway. Species diversity trends over time and space are analysed to provide performance of the artisanal fishery in Lake Kariba and also to assess the health of the fishery.

Ecology of Tigerfish in Lake Kariba: Analysing catch trends and effect of declining kapenta populations in Lake Kariba on tigerfish stock and consequences of changes on the ecosystem.

Effect of Climate Change on Zooplankton production in Lake Kariba: So far it has been established that temperatures above 28oC lead to a decline in algae populations and promote blue-green algae growth. The latter is not palatable to zooplankton. Since Lake Kariba waters have warmed up over the years and temperatures are consistently above 28oC it is important to assess the zooplankton response to this alteration of the food chain with particular interest in how this ultimately affects kapenta production since zooplankton is the primary feed for the clupeid.

Lovelater joined ZPWMA in 2014. She is interested in raptors and has worked on a raptor bird projects. She did her industrial attachment with the African Birds of Prey Sanctuary, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. She has worked as a research assistant for Avisense Consulting in Cape Town and also for Peter Mundy at the National University of Science and Technology. Her Honours project was on the sexing of Long-crested eagles in the field. Her MSc project was on Black Sparrowhawks. She is also currently doing some work on owls, vultures and the Black stork.

Mr. Ashley Mudungwe joined the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) in March 2014. Before joining the ZPWMA Ashley worked with the Dambari Wildlife Trust as a Conservation Education and Research Officer from January 2009 to June 2010. Ashley has a BSc. (Hon) degree in Forest Resources and Wildlife Management with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) which he completed in 2008. He also has a certificate in Cheetah Conservation Biology which he obtained from the Cheetah Conservation Fund (Namibia) in 2008. Between 2010 and 2012, Ashley completed a Master of Science degree in Environmental Informatics (GIS and Remote Sensing) with the University of Leicester, UK. His research interests are in the Human-predator conflict issues, Land Use/Cover Change and GIS and Remote Sensing applications.

P. Kuvawoga(View Full Profile)

Mr. Kuvawoga is a planner by profession. He has been with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority for the past 8years. He holds a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Rural and Urban Planning and a Masters in Environmental Policy and Planning both obtained from the University of Zimbabwe. Currently he is the Principal Planning officer for ZimParks and resident ecologist for the Mid- Zambezi Valley, spear heading preparation of park management plans, control of physical developments within parks estates and terrestrial research. His research interest includes climate change and impacts on wildlife, human-wildlife conflict, land use and land use change, environmental design, wildlife utilization, spatial modeling, planning and environmental impact assessments. Mr. Kuvawoga has vast experience in wildlife surveys and preparation of feasibility assessments for wildlife farming and environmental management projects.